Astros place Collin McHugh on injured list with sore elbow

Houston Astros relief pitcher Collin McHugh throws in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers in Detroit, Tuesday, May 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Houston Astros relief pitcher Collin McHugh throws in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers in Detroit, Tuesday, May 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Photo: Paul Sancya, Associated Press

Photo: Paul Sancya, Associated Press

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Houston Astros relief pitcher Collin McHugh throws in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers in Detroit, Tuesday, May 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Houston Astros relief pitcher Collin McHugh throws in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers in Detroit, Tuesday, May 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Photo: Paul Sancya, Associated Press

Astros place Collin McHugh on injured list with sore elbow

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Righthander Collin McHugh, who was placed Tuesday on the 10-day injured list retroactive to last Saturday, said an MRI showed no structural damage in his sore right elbow and that he will go a couple of days without picking up a baseball before beginning rehab work.

McHugh, who last pitched May 14 in a two-inning stint at Detroit, said he began experiencing elbow soreness a couple of days later, He attributed the problem to adjusting his routine since being sent to the bullpen after a three-inning implosion May 7 in a 12-2 loss to the Royals.

He warmed up Monday night and would have been available to come into the game had the Astros extended their 3-0 lead against the White Six. After the game, however, he said he met with manager A.J, Hinch and that the two agreed an injured list would be best for all parties.

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"I could have gone then and probably could go (Tuesday), but it hasn't been the most comfortable throwing session the last few times," he said.

"I don't want to be a liability (in the bullpen) with those guys getting as much work as they have. Hopefully we can get it taken care of and get back to helping the team."

With McHugh on the injured list, the Astros called up Brady Rodgers from Class AAA Round Rock to take his place on the roster. Rodgers was a starter in Round Rock, but will be used out of the bullpen in the big leagues. At Round Rock, Rodgers had a 3.22 ERA in seven starts with 32 strikeouts and 16 walks in 44 2/3 innings.

McHugh said he probably would go two to three days without picking up a ball before playing catch and perhaps throwing a bullpen session. He said he did not believe a minor league rehab session would be necessary.

The righthander had elbow issues in 2017 and was limited to a dozen starts before working out of the bullpen in the playoffs. He said that injury involved a structural impingement and that the MRI revealed no structural issues related to his current soreness.

"There's a little inflammation, probably a result of changing routines and getting out of the routine of where I had been as a starter and having to make adjustments in the bullpen," he said. ""Hopefully it won't be too long or too hard of a rehab."